From Kim Jong-kook, Lee Min-woo to BLACKPINK’s Lisa: Stars cannot escape falling victim to scams

Recently, several celebrities have revealed that they were deceived not only in investments but also by trusted acquaintances. Among them are Kim Jong-kook, Lee Min-woo, Bbaek Ga, Choo Sung-hoon and BLACKPINK’s Lisa.

On the June 9th episode of SBS’s variety show “My Little Old Boy”, Kim Jong-kook shared his experience of being scammed in an investment. When asked if there were people who borrowed money from him, Kim Jong-kook replied, “Yes, my mother always told me to only lend money that I could afford to lose.”

He recalled a situation where he decided to cut off any interest in money that was not earned through his hard work after being scammed. Despite being firm about his financial dealings, he was swayed by peers and ended up investing a significant amount, only to lose billions of won.

Shinhwa’s Lee Min-woo recently revealed that he was scammed out of 2.6 billion won by a trusted friend of 20 years. On the June 1st episode of KBS2’s variety show “Mr. House Husband Season 2”, he shared the betrayal he felt from someone he considered family.

The psychological torment was so severe that it led to PTSD. Lee Min-woo admitted that the mental strain was more significant than the financial loss, as he was gaslighted and threatened, causing him to lose his self-worth and identity. This trauma drove him to the brink, with a suicide attempt at the Han River, but he found solace and recovery with the help of his family.

Koyote’s Bbaek Ga also disclosed his multiple experiences of being scammed by acquaintances.

On Channel A’s variety show “Detectives: The Trade Secret”, he revealed that he earned the nickname “loss adjuster” due to the numerous scams he fell victim to, recalling at least 6~7 instances. He mentioned being scammed by a friend of 10 years who promised to triple his investment but disappeared with the money.

Fighter Choo Sung-hoon revealed on KBS 2TV’s variety show “Boss in the Mirror” that he lost around 1 billion won to a long-time friend who managed his money.

Choo Sung-hoon entrusted his friend with his earnings, only to find out that his entire fight money, accumulated over 6 years, had been taken, leaving him with just 200,000 won in his account.

Koyote’s Kim Jong-min also shared his experience of being deceived by a manager who embezzled his broadcast appearance fees. He learned to be cautious about large money requests from people around him.

BLACKPINK’s Lisa experienced a major financial betrayal in 2020 when her former manager scammed her out of more than 1 billion won. The trusted manager, who had been with Lisa since her debut, pretended to be looking into real estate investments for her but squandered the money on gambling. YG Entertainment confirmed the scam, stating that Lisa’s former manager had partially repaid the amount and agreed on a repayment plan before leaving the company.

These celebrities, despite their fame and success, have faced significant psychological challenges due to these scams, emphasizing that the emotional and mental toll can be more profound than the financial loss itself.